Avner Pariat, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Assembly elections earlier this year, has condemned the attempts by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), in particular the CEM, to “suppress” freedom of speech by pursuing legal routes against a recent critic.
At the Seng Kut Snem celebration last week, Chanlok Dkhar, a senior member of the Sein Raij Jowai, ripped into the performance of the district councils with regards to their supposed failure to protect indigenous customs and over perceived corruption among its members.
“Dkhar, a concerned citizen like myself, has brought attention to issues that he believes are detrimental to the well-being of the community and in violation of ethical governance principles,” Pariat said in a press note today. “It is disheartening to witness the KHADC respond with legal action rather than addressing the concerns raised, thereby creating a hostile environment for whistle-blowers and stifling the democratic values that our society holds dear.”
The KHADC must reconsider its decision and engage in a transparent and open dialogue to address the concerns he has raised, he added. “Suppressing dissent undermines the principles of democracy and erodes public trust in institutions.”
